In the North West Region as little as 7.5% may be enough for a fourth placed party to win the final seat in the region on 4 June. There lies the challenge for the Green Party. UKIP’s vote looks set to decline and the BNP look set to grow. To win a seat the Greens must beat both of these parties to fourth place.
Since 2004 we’ve seen regional membership grow by nearly 30%. We’ve now got 15 Principal Local Authority councillors (up from 9) and a number of parish councillors around the region. We’ve also attracted backing from other parties who are advocating a tactical vote for the Greens to keep out the BNP, and the support of many former Labour and Lib Dem councillors.
If elected as MEP
A Euro MP would transform our profile in the North West. Outside our strong areas such as Lancaster, Liverpool and Manchester the region is crying out for a clear Green voice to challenge the same policies for airport expansion and road building that the red, yellow and blue parties all support.
Climate Change is a crucial issue and it is only by voting Green that we make progress and the other parties are dragged along with us.
Background
Peter became a Green activist after George Bush became the US President. He knew it would be bad for people and the planet. Being an armchair member and donating was no longer going to be enough.
Peter has lived in Liverpool for over a decade and is married with a four month old son (who is now considerate enough to sleep most of each night!) He works for a parenting support charity in the Press Office but has extensive experience as a Lecturer, Social Worker and, from quite a few years ago, a bank manager.
Successes in the Region
Our two political groups, in Lancaster and Liverpool, have already racked up some significant local achievements:
Lancaster Greens’ achievements include:
• Winning a six-year battle to stop the green fields opposite the University from becoming an executive housing estate
• Rescuing a heritage building from destruction by the Council, and generating over 100 new jobs in creative industries
• Championing successful bids to make Lancaster a ‘Fair Trade District’ and a ‘Cycling Demonstration Town’, bringing in £1.5 million of external funding
• Raising £300,000 to build a now-thriving community centre in one of the city’s most deprived areas
• Saving a wildlife estuary of international importance from a hugely damaging road building scheme
Liverpool Greens have:
• Saved the jobs of 25 local lollipop attendants after successfully getting a budget amendment through this year
• Ensured that homeless people with disabilities were entitled to a free bus pass
• Successfully gained cross party support for Liverpool City Council to press Merseyside Pension Fund to disinvest from the arms industry
• Campaigned to keep bus bays free of parked vehicles so disabled users can freely access public transport
The Regional Campaign
We are going to be distributing 300,000 leaflets in addition to the freepost leaflets. Peter will be touring Cumbria and Lancashire at the end of April and beginning of May. And we’ll be using online messages, public meetings and whatever press opportunities we can generate to get our message across.
If you’d like to find out more or help the campaign in the North West Region contact: Peter Cranie at the NW office: 5 Union Street, Manchester, M12 4JD; phone: 0161 277 7823; e-mail: Northwest@greenparty.org.uk, or petercranie@greenparty.org.uk.
